“No Government support for the 2019/2020 Sierra Leone Premier League,” PLB cries

The Sierra Leone Premier League returns to another thrilling season, its second season after a 4 year break in top tier football in the country. But this year’s league is being run under difficult financial conditions. “No government support”, says Lawyer Alieu Vandi Koroma, current Chairman of the Premier League Board (PLB).

The 2018/2019 league season was however successful with fans spellbound due to the timely supports the PLB under the Chairmanship of Lawyer Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai receives from the Government of Sierra Leone and corporate houses. A total of Le 3.5 Billion was government’s support towards the league, which made it easier to run and attract football fans.

But the story has not been the same for the current Premier League Board. Since the 2019/2020 league was announced, the PLB has asked for government’s support towards since October 2019, through the Sports Ministry. It is match-day 6, the second month into the league season, no government support towards the Board, making it extremely difficult for the teams and the league to get the momentum needed. Some players are still earning less than the minimum wage from their clubs, who in turn are in cash trap to sufficiently motivate their players

Notwithstanding, the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) through the leadership of Madam Isha Johansen has provided the PLB with the sum of Le 500 million, plus a sponsorship fee of Le 100 million from Orange. The PLB has paid a sum of Le 75 million through bank overdrafts to each of the 14 clubs as cash support. In a nutshell, the 2019/2020 League is being run with a total of Le 600 million, and the 10% the Board gets from match gate-takings.

Sources from the PLB state that the proposed two-legs league may come to a halt, or a one leg league cannot be ruled out if there are no forthcoming supports from the government or the corporate sector.

The Board is struggling to pay its officials like referees, match officials, and other service providers due to the unavailability of funds, and the beauty of the game is gradually going down a step.
According to sources, for the proper running of the ongoing league, about Le 3 billion or more was budgeted by the Board to successfully conduct the league, but unfortunately, not even 20% of that has not been achieved so far.

Football loving fans are calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to provide funds for the league so that we will continue to create jobs for over 1000 young Sierra Leoneans and prepare them for international markets.

The ball is however rolling, but with bumpy rides.

By: Ibrahim Sorious Samura